This word is a rather bittersweet feeling referring to the hope that you will die before someone you love deeply. Literally asking the person to bury you, this word essentially means that you cannot bear to live without the other person.

Ever had a really bad argument and you think of the perfect comeback only after the fact? This word embodies that feeling perfectly.

There are many words in foreign languages that don’t have an English equivalent. This is why it is important to learn another language. Not only do you learn new ways to express yourself, you learn about the world and different cultures. Learning a foreign or second language is a rich and rewarding experience, whether it’s for professional, social or personal reasons.

Come down to Agape School of Education and pick a foreign language course that you’re interested in! With over 13 different languages to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice! If you’re a Singaporean citizen above the age of 25, you are eligible for the SkillsFuture Credit Scheme! Our Korean and German classes are claimable via SkillsFuture Credit.

Many people know it’s important to learn a foreign language. Not only is it good for mental functions, it’s a useful tool in the business world. It’s easy to start learning a new language, because of our motivations. However, many of us have also picked up a new language and then dropped it after a while. If this sounds like you, write down the top 5 most recent reasons you’ve put off practising the new language. We’ve also listed some of the 6 common reasons that people often cite when they put off learning a language.

1. No time

We all have our busy days and some days can overwhelm us. It’s understandable that on days like this spending an hour on grammar, much less foreign grammar, is simply beyond you. But if you use this excuse every day, is it justified? Always remember that if you want to learn a language, you need to put in the effort and make the time. Even if it’s just five minutes a day, make the commitment to your education.

It’s very simple. If you learn best in the morning, dedicate 5 minutes while you brush your teeth, eat your breakfast, make your coffee or even while you’re standing on the MRT. Tie it up with something that you do on a daily basis so that you don’t forget. Research has shown that if you connect a new habit with an old one, you are more likely to retain it.

2. Where do I start?

Languages are a great undertaking. There are many parts and facets that students must grapple with. This only gets harder when you consider the multitude of learning aids available in stores and online. Your phone alone has numerous apps for every language. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused with where to start. Agape School of Education provides our students with specialised and in-house learning materials that will guide students on their learning journey. We also use different types of media, including audio-visual materials to help all types of students learn effectively.

Ask yourself what is it you want to do now with your language. Pass an exam? Give a presentation at work? Talk with your friends? Find your reason and then find the materials to help you accomplish just that. Here’s a really great tip: find a resource you love and stick with it. Try to wring as much as you can out of the material which you have chosen. You will progress if you stick with one resource and keep using it. If you switch around, you may progress, but you also might get lost starting over and over again.

3. How do I practice?

Take it one step at a time. Practice grammar one day, syntax the next and spelling on another. Vocabulary is the only part of a language that we would recommend you practice every day. Try to learn 5 new words a day, but if that’s too much, start at 1 and work your way up. Always remember to schedule revision days as well so that you refresh and reiterate the information you’ve already learnt.

4. I’m exhausted after work

School days are longer than ever. Between classes, exams, co-curricular activities and other activities outside of school, there’s barely time to relax let alone schedule extra study time. For adult learners, long work days, after-hour work calls, and juggling work and family responsibilities can easily force practicing a language to take a back seat. Sure, you could stay up later, but sleep is very important for memory and the retention of information. Therefore, we recommend taking a quick nap before you start studying, or scheduling your quick revision or practice in the morning as you wake up!

5. I can’t afford a tutor

Perhaps you just don’t have the drive to study alone? That’s fine but tutors can be an investment that you’re not sure you’re ready to take. However, if you really want to learn a language, we’d suggest you do it the right way. Learning a language haphazardly can create more problems than you expected. Learning the wrong conjugation or syntax can affect the applicability of your language skills. Furthermore, if you’re not studying the right way, learning a language can seem daunting. This can affect your motivation and desire to learn, impacting the way you feel about a language.

At Agape School of Education, we inspire a love of language in our students. We incorporate culture and language in our syllabus so that our students understand the intricacies of each language.

6. There isn’t anyone to practice with

Practicing your speaking skills is an important part of learning any language. It helps you brush up on your vocabulary, learn new phrases and test out your pronunciation. However, if you don’t have that extra support, it can seem like learning the language has been a bit of a waste. At Agape School of Education, our group classes encourage students to communicate and test out their skills. Not only do our students get the opportunity to communicate with their fellow peers, they also gain access to our native- and non-native speaking teachers. This exposes them to a wide variety of language dialects, accents and communication styles!

The traditional Chinese character for horse features four legs and a tail – later chopped off during the simplification process. Image: ShaoLan/Chineasy

In Singapore, students are mandated by law to learn a second language, their ‘mother tongue’ language. But for most students, rather than being a cultural education, learning their ‘mother tongue’ language is a chore. Mandarin, one of the main ‘mother tongue’ languages, is now increasing in popularity, even among non-ethnically Chinese students. This is due to the increasing role China is playing in the global arena. As an upcoming superpower, Mandarin will be a useful tool for learners, both adult and students, to have.

​However, with over 20,000 characters, 4 tones and multiple variations, Mandarin can be very daunting for the new learner. Aiming to make this foundational process easier is Chineasy. Mandarin is a pictorial language and the characters used today are said to have evolved from a literal representation of the object or thing they describe. Chineasy capitalises on this by using a pictorial means of teaching the language. It also uses storytelling to inspires the student to learn.

The founder of Chineasy, ShaoLan, utilises the 80/20 principle which breaks down just 20% of Chinese characters because he believes that is all that is required to meet 80% of basic communication needs. This approach avoids the typical cookie-cutter method often taught in schools, which forces students to memorize thousands and thousands of characters. This is often the reason students become turned off learning, leading to a lack of interest to learn the Mandarin language. Without this interest, students are rarely able to progress past a superficial grasp of the language to a deeper understanding of the basic ‘building blocks’.

Some of the other principles Chineasy focuses on are

Compared to grammar in the English language, which uses past participles, gerunds and infinitives, Mandarin grammar is easy. With the basic sentence structure of Subject + Verb + Object, students will be able to verbalise and participate in simple communication.

There are no verb conjugations in Mandarin as the verb remains unchanged regardless of 1st person, 2nd person or 3rd person. It even remains the same for singular, plural, masculine and feminine forms.

It’s easy to ask a question. By adding “吗/嗎 (ma)”, you can turn any sentence into a question.

Mandarin does not have any articles (“a”, “an”, or “the”)!

Always at the cutting edge of language acquisition and learning, Agape School of Education seeks out new ways to improve our teaching styles. We understand that each student is different and requires a different approach. Therefore, we don’t subscribe to any one way of teaching. Instead, our teachers analyse each student and come up with a specific lesson plan that will benefit them the most. Our class sizes are also kept small to promote quality and quantity student-teacher interaction.

Casual learners can also find simple communication classes, or courses for travellers, or for business purposes. We have a variety of classes available for any and every type of student and our courses are modifiable for any purpose. Contact Agape School of Education today to find out how we can help you plan and structure a course that’s uniquely tailored to meet your language acquisition goals!

The French language has been known to be confusing to foreign language learners, especially student’s whose first language is English. This is because in the English language, the general rule is that sentences require a definite or indefinite article. Articles behave in the same way as adjectives in that they modify nouns. However, in the French language, the rules are different. Articles aren’t fixed like in the English language, they vary in relation to the corresponding nouns that they modify. This makes it difficult to find corresponding articles in other languages.

Therefore, the lack of such articles in French can be confusing for a teacher to explain and difficult for students, especially older ones, to grasp. This very basic linguistic problem can often go undiagnosed or unaddressed even in students who have been learning a new language for several years. This is abundantly clear by the overuse of a substitute of a definite article in sentences.

Definite Articles

For example, in the English language, “the” is the only definite article, however, in French there are four, depending on the gender of the noun, starting alphabet, or if it is singular or plural.

le (masculine singular)

la (feminine singular)

l’ (masculine or feminine but appears in front of a vowel or ‘h’)

les (masculine or feminine but attached to plural nouns)

Exceptions of definite articles

Unlike the English language, definite articles in the French language may be used to indicate an overarching ‘sense’ of a noun. As definite articles are not used similarly in the English language, this can be mind-boggling for native English speakers. In the French language, the definite article can also change if it follows the prepositions ‘à’ or ‘de’. In these cases, the article and preposition contract into a single word.

Indefinite Articles

The indefinite article might be the easiest part of French grammar. In the English language, indefinite articles are “a,” “an,” or “one” in English, while the corresponding plural article is “some.” In the French language, these four articles correspond to are three forms of indefinite articles.

un (masculine)

une (feminine)

des (masculine or feminine but attached to plural nouns)

The indefinite article usually refers to an unspecified person or thing.

Exceptions of Indefinite Articles

In the English language, the indefinite article is used to describe to a person’s profession or religion. However, this is not the case in the French language. In the negative use (ne pas), the indefinite article changes to ‘de’ (pas de), which means “(not) any”.

Partitive Articles

Although often omitted in the English language, partitive articles are used to indicate an unknown quantity of something, usually food or drink. These partitive articles are the English language equivalent of “some” or “any” and have four forms.

du (masculine singular)

de la (feminine singular)

de l’ (masculine or feminine but appears in front of a vowel or ‘h’)

des (masculine or feminine but appears in front of a plural noun)

Like the definite articles, use of the appropriate partitive article depends on the gender of the noun, starting alphabet, or if it is singular or plural.

Exceptions of partitive articles

The partitive article ‘de’, is used after adverbs indicating quantity and in the negative form, similar to the rules that apply to indefinite articles.

The important thing to understand when learning or teaching a foreign language, is that the objective is not a translation. Learning a foreign language is about focusing on the cultural differences and nuances. At Agape School of Education, we use a variety of strategies and materials to cultivate this understanding. Our trained teachers find and employ what works best for their students. Be it providing students with a variety of reading materials, encouraging conversation or using different types of media, our methods are diverse. Our curriculum is unique because we also place importance on the culture of a language.

We do this because we know that inspiring a love of the language will breed passion in our students, which will lead them to succeed at their goals. As a result, Agape School of Education students regularly score in the highest percentile in local and international examinations. Many of our students have proceeded to use their language skills to gain prestigious jobs or educational opportunities.

Korean is spoken by over 63 million people in South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan, and even Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia! Grammatically, the Korean language has many similarities to the Japanese language while 70% of its vocabulary is a derivative of the Chinese language. The key to learning Korean is Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Although generally similar to the English alphabet, Hangul groups characters into syllables and does not have lowercase or capital letters. A rather short alphabet, it consists of 19 consonant letters and 21 vowel characters. Characters are grouped into blocks to form each syllable. In fact, the word “hangul” consists of the syllables han (한) and gul (글).

The Korean alphabet is unique as the shape of the letters are modelled after the phonetic features they represent. For example, consonants follow the shape the mouth creates when pronouncing the letter while vowels are made up of horizontal or vertical lines. The character “ㄱ” is roughly the shape your tongue forms when we pronounce the “g” sound.

Another fact about the Korean language is that every word, noun and syllable begins with a consonant. This is always followed by a vowel on the right or below the character. Having the vowel below the first consonant is the most common way of creating syllables. In this case, the third character will always be placed below the second.

Apart from the basic consonants and vowels, Hangul has several irregularities. This is important for reading Hangul. Reading Korean can be simpler than reading English! This is because of the relative pronunciation of sounds in English. This does not occur in the Korean language. Luckily, most irregularities are small and not common. Generally, irregularities are specific to a single character rather than a group of characters.

The most important part of the Korean language are the verbs. Unlike English, the Korean language does not have a subject. Instead, it is assumed from context. However, like the French language, the verb can take different forms depending on who you are conversing with. So, speaking to a respected elder is different from speaking to a friend.

There are many aspects to learning the Korean language, however, with proper guidance and a variety of methods, Korean can be easy to learn. This is especially true in Singapore, where the majority of the population has some knowledge of Mandarin. Even those who do not can easily pick it up as the alphabet is small and the linguistic rules of this language are very straightforward.

The key to success for any student is perseverance and positivity. After all, if you don’t enjoy doing it then what is the point? Learning Korean could be one of the most amazing and fulfilling experiences that you have ever had. Considering the area of the world that Singapore is located in, learning Korean could open new doors in your life that you had never before thought possible. For example, students seeking higher education can use this skill to apply to higher education institutions such as INSEAD.

On the other hand, with the boom of Korean songs (K-Pop), dramas and news, it is not unreasonable to learn the language to better connect with these aspects of the culture. Furthermore, learning a foreign language is one of the highest personal intellectual goals one can achieve. The learning process is not always easy and you’ll have many small issues and problems to tackle along the way. You’ll have to focus on various aspects of the problem, such as spelling, grammar, reading, pronunciation and so forth. However, if you keep the problem in sight and don’t lose interest, the chances of success are extremely high and the intellectual fulfilment that you get at the end is incomparable to anything else.

Even if you don’t know a single word of German, you can probably read and understand the following German text. Did you know that the English and German languages descended from the same Proto-Germanic tongue? Many words in both languages are the same or similar.

With these hints, read the German text again and check yourself to see if you comprehend more of the text. Think of the words in the context and allow your mind to fill in the blanks. Related words, like the ones above, with common ancestral roots, are called ‘cognates’. English and German are some of the few languages that share many cognates. Over the years, however, many words that used to mean the same thing in both languages have evolved and have acquired different connotations. For example, the old German word for ‘wife’ (‘Weib’) is nowadays generally applied in a deprecating manner. Similarly, the German word ‘gift’ does not mean a present, it means ‘poison’!

Although this technique is not applicable to all foreign languages, the use of similarities is a useful technique for students. Over time you will discover the exceptions. You will feel comfortable with the similarities and form a foundation on which you can build. The learning task then becomes less daunting – and even enjoyable. It is also a nifty trick that can help a student in a pinch or during an exam!

Over the centuries the world has become a melting pot of cultures and languages. Many words and phrases have crossed borders. Globalization, spurred by newspapers, radio, TV, the internet and travel, has accelerated the process. We often use foreign-derived words without a second thought. For example, angst, soup du jour, cafe au lait, poltergeist, bona fide, carte blanche, nom de plume, savoir-faire just to name a few.

Every time you come to a new text passage, scan it to find what you already know (or can guess) for a general sense of what it means. Only tackle the unknown bits after gaining a general sense of the piece. As a student, the learning process will advance rapidly and it will alleviate the tediousness of learning language semantics.

At Agape School of Education, we use a variety of strategies and materials to coach our students to succeed. Our trained teachers find and employ what works best for their students. Be it providing students with a variety of reading materials, encouraging conversation or using different types of media, our methods are diverse. Our curriculum is unique because we also place importance on the culture of a language.

We do this because we know that inspiring a love of the language will breed passion in our students, which will lead them to realise their goals. As a result, Agape School of Education students regularly score in the highest percentile in local and international examinations. Many of our students have proceeded to use their language skills to gain prestigious jobs or educational opportunities.

Some people take years to learn a language, some months and others decades. So, what are we all chasing? What is it that exams test students for? Fluency. However, given the different complexities, intricacies and even structure of languages around the world, how do you know if you’ve really become fluent? Is it that 100% score on an exam? Students (and parents) certainly think so.

Linguists, on the other hand, argue that fluency is achieved when your subconscious takes over the linguistic process. When you move from controlled linguistic processing to automated, that’s when you’ve achieved fluency. In short, it means when thinking in a foreign language becomes as easy as thinking in your natural language, you’ve achieved fluency. But how do we measure this so that we’re sure?

1. You have dreams in your foreign languageWhen we say you dream, I don’t mean a student of the French language dreams of a croissant, or that you hear one word of the language in your dream. I mean that you really have active use of the language within your dream. This is an excellent indicator of fluency because when you are sleeping, your subconscious takes over. If your subconscious speaks a foreign language, it’s a clear sign that you’ve switched to automated processing.

2. You can’t help but eavesdrop on conversations in that languageWhile we are not condoning eavesdropping, when you become fluent in a language, it’s very hard to avoid listening into private conversations. It’s hard to even ignore background conversations in that language. For example, imagine that you’re in the midst of a crowd of people, speaking in a language you don’t understand. Even within that crowd, if someone says something in your native tongue, your ears will pick it up easily. It’s the same for any fluent language, because your subconscious processes the input so even if you’re not listening out for it, the language becomes hard to ignore.

3. You don’t have to concentrate all of your energy to speak the language fluentlyIn controlled processing, learners have to focus the majority of their energy to fluently speak in their foreign language. Language is inherently a complex task, involving several different areas of the brain. When you throw in the different levels of processing needed for vocabulary, grammar and syntax, it’s not hard to see why it requires so much brain power.

However, when a student becomes fluent, the automated processing frees up the brain to focus on other things, whilst speaking fluently. A good test of fluency is to see if you can multitask and speak at the same time.

For example, can you dance, eat a cookie and have a conversation in your foreign language at the same time?

These are some simple ways to measure your fluency. But don’t be disheartened if you find that you’re not as fluent as you would have liked to be. At the same time, don’t become complacent if you find that you are fluent. Fluency is fluid and it can come and go if the learner doesn’t practice their skills regularly. In the same vein, language is a constant learning process. Even in our native tongues, we learn new words and phrases every day.

At Agape School of Education (ASE), we keep our classes small so our teachers can connect with their students on a personal level. This helps them tailor their lessons and teaching approaches to the individual student. We also combine the technical aspect of language with the cultural. This reinforces the love of the language and helps the student better grasp the language. Our goal is to impart knowledge and inspire passion in our students, and our coaching approach helps our students deal with the emotional aspect of learning a new language. View and register for our available language classes and courses here.

More and more software programs, electronic devices and websites devoted to foreign languages are being developed daily. Why all the excitement? Why would YOU want to learn a foreign language?

Job Advancement – Get the Competitive Edge

Many large corporations and government agencies have positions requiring a second language. In a country like Canada, which is officially bilingual, someone who knows both French and English will have better employment prospects. This also applies for many fresh grads and students who want to work in multinational companies like INSEAD.

Travel

Travel to a foreign country can be exciting – and also very exasperating if you can’t understand the local speech. Many North Americans are somewhat egocentric in this regard, expecting to find English spoken no matter where they are. Although this is sometimes true in larger cities, don’t expect to find English-speakers in small communities.

Relatives

The world is a melting pot of cultures and languages. You probably have living relatives in other countries with whom you could communicate more effectively if you took the effort to learn at least a few words.

Genealogy Research

Some of your ancestors probably spoke a different language. If you plan to search old genealogical records, you will be more successful with at least a basic understanding of your ancestors’ language(s).

Understanding Your Own Language

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, ‘Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen’ or ‘Those who don’t know foreign languages know nothing of their own.’ Learning a foreign language will give you a much better understanding of English. Your knowledge of English grammar, vocabulary, verb tenses and sentence construction will improve when you tackle another language.

Self-Actualization and Challenge

If you’ve already been everywhere and done everything – perhaps it’s time to tackle something new. What could be more challenging and rewarding than immersing yourself in another language?

Opera, Poetry, and Prose Appreciation

Artistic works were written in a different language and often cannot be fully appreciated when translated into English. This is especially obvious when listening to poetry. If poetry is translated into English with a preserved rhyming scheme, the meaning of the poetry is almost always altered. Being able to listen to the original language – with its subtle tones and nuances – will lend to a greater appreciation of the artist.

Culture Appreciation

One can only truly comprehend a foreign culture if the language is also understood. Exactly what is ‘Bratwurst’ or ‘Calvados’? And what about foreign films? Wouldn’t you like to be able to watch something with subtitles – and skip reading them?

Invigorate the Brain

Adults benefit from the brain stimulation produced by language training. Seniors who tackle a foreign language show improved brain function over a period of time. Students who learn foreign languages as children score better on academic tests. There is also evidence to suggest that they may be more creative and resourceful when faced with solving complex tasks.

Learning Teaches You How to Learn

The self-discipline and study habits acquired through the successful acquisition of a foreign language can be applied to many other aspects of your life.

Studying Abroad

What better way to learn about a country’s culture than to study there? This requires an excellent command of the local language.

Communicate With Someone Secretly in Public

Imagine chatting in public with a friend about something private, knowing that only your friend understands!

Make Online Penpals and Friends

The internet is transforming our world into an intimate global village where you can chat via e-mail, forums, live chat sessions, and audio/video feeds.

Impress a Date?

In closing – male or female – you will make points with your bilingual date by learning a few important words. If your date doesn’t speak a foreign language, he or she will be impressed by the enchanting allure of intimate expressions in one of the ‘romance’ languages.

So – what are you waiting for? Get learning with Agape School of Education! We offer language classes in over 13 different languages.

The one thing young students, casual learners and advanced learners of a language have in common is the desire to learn efficiently. Students have to grapple with very different concepts, cultures and even script – depending on the language. It’s not as simple as picking up reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. To learn effectively, grammar rules, vocabulary and pronunciation are equally important. So what habits or actions can students use to gain that extra head start above the rest of the class?

1. Say it like the native speakersTalk to native speakers to learn pronunciations, cultural backgrounds and even well-known slangs or phrases. Agape School of Education (ASE) has a variety of teachers who teach their native tongue.

2. Engage with the classStrike up conversations with your fellow classmates or even those who have learnt the language as a second or third language. They will understand better than anyone else what you might be struggling with. ASE has a healthy mix of teachers who are native and non-native speakers of the language they teach. If you’re looking for relatable tips on how to study or memorise, you’ll find no better resource than our teachers.

3. Dear DiaryWrite in the language you want to learn regularly. Daily even, if you want to maximise your learning efficiency. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start with listing out simple daily tasks then progress to feelings, ideas, thoughts and phrases you’ve recently learnt.

4. Take writing onlineScout out online language forums or discussion rooms where you can e-converse with people, express ideas or exchange thoughts about particular topics. It’s always a bonus if you can converse in another language on a topic that interests you. This ensures the vocabulary you learn is relevant and that you’ll remember it because you will use it.

5. The Fridge methodEvery week, pick 5 items in your house that you want to focus on. Start with items that you use regularly, for example, your fridge, your cupboard, your laptop or even your dog! Attach vocabulary lists to these objects, but make sure that the lists have new and challenging words that you want to memorize. This method ensures that you test yourself every day. Of course, you must remember to refresh the list once you’ve committed the vocabulary to memory. As a bonus, see if you can formulate sentences or situations using the vocabulary you’ve chosen!

6. Listen to a storySometimes the best way to commit something to memory is to attach a song or a story to it. Research songs or folk tales in the language you are learning and go through the words, sentence structure and phrases that they use. That catchy tune that’s stuck in your head for days doesn’t need to be annoying! Use it to improve your skills!

7. Ban your native tongueOnce you’ve garnered enough vocabulary, start implementing hours, days or events where you only converse in your newly learnt language. Give yourself rewards and punishments for sticking to it or breaking the rules! It’ll not only force you to use the knowledge you’ve learnt, but also to alert you to gaps in your knowledge!

These tips can help you enhance and maximise your learning capacity. However, as with learning anything, be it a skill or a language, repetition and familiarity are always the most important key factors to success. Come down to ASE today to find out how we can help you succeed in learning a foreign language! Or register for a course online now!

Learning a language is not always effortless. To maximise your learning and efficiently progress, students must adopt strategies. Here are our best tips for enhancing language skills and managing language challenges.

This list is not exhaustive, it’s simply a place to begin.

1. Take the mystery away.The first and perhaps most important strategy is to teach students about the components of language, common language challenges and language strategies, and to help students understand their own language strengths and challenges. This process is sometimes called demystification – taking the mystery away.

2. Simplify directions.Students with receptive language challenges may need directions broken down into their simplest form. They may also benefit from a comic book-type illustration of steps to take for the completion of a task.

3. Give written copies of directions and examples.Students with receptive language challenges may need directions given to them at a relatively slow pace. They may need directions repeated to them. They most often benefit from having a written copy of directions that are given orally. Examples of what needs to be done are also useful.

4. Provide frequent breaks.Students who have receptive language challenges may use up a lot of energy listening, and, therefore, tire easily. Consequently, short, highly structured work timed with frequent breaks or quiet periods may be helpful.

5. Give additional time.Students with receptive and expressive language challenges are likely to have a slower processing speed and should be allowed additional time for written work and tests.

6. Sit Close.A student may want to sit close to the teacher so he can watch the facial expression of the teacher when s/he is talking. This may also help to diminish interference from other auditory distractions.

7. Allow voluntary participation.Students with language processing challenges should not be put on the spot by being required to answer questions during class discussions, especially without being forewarned. Rather, their participation should be on a voluntary basis.

8. Teach summarising and paraphrasing.Reading comprehension is often enhanced by summarising and paraphrasing. This helps students to identify the main idea and supporting details. It may be helpful to provide key words such as who, what, when, where and why to orient attention to the appropriate details.

9. Teach a staging procedure.Most students find a staging procedure beneficial when writing paragraphs, essays, poems, reports and research papers. First, they should generate ideas, and then they should organise them. Next, they should attend to spelling and grammatical rules. They may also list their most frequently occurring errors in a notebook and refer to this list when self-correcting.

10. Encourage renewed investment of energy in older students.Older students who have experienced reading failure from an early age must become convinced that a renewed investment of energy will be worthwhile. According to Louisa Moats, an expert in the field of reading, older students who are very poor readers must have their phonological skills strengthened because the inability to identify speech sounds erodes spelling, word recognition, and vocabulary development. Phonological awareness, spelling, decoding, grammar, and other language skills can be taught as a linguistics course in which instructors use more adult terminology such as phoneme deletion and morphemic structure. Phonemic drills may include games such as reverse-a-word (Say teach; then say it with the sounds backwards cheat.)

11. Give Foreign Language WaiversStudents who have experienced problems with their primary language are more likely to have difficulty with a foreign language. Foreign language requirements may need to be waived for these students.

12. Use echo reading for fluency development.For fluency development, it is helpful to have a student in the lower grades echo read and also read simultaneously with an adult. The adult and the student may also take turns reading every other sentence or paragraph. Additionally, the adult may model a sentence and then have the student read that same sentence.

13. Amplify auditory input.Multisensory techniques can be used to increase phonetic skills and to memorize sight words. For example, a student may sound out a word or write sight words on a dry erase board using different coloured markers, all while using Hearfones, a Phonics Phone or a Toobaloo device to enhance auditory input. These devices amplify and direct the student’s own voice straight back to his ears, causing increased auditory stimulation to the brain. These devices can be purchased from CDL’s A+ WebStore.

14. See, say, hear and touch.Multisensory strategies are helpful for learning letter names. Examples include: 1) spreading shaving cream on a table top and having the child write letters in the shaving cream while saying the letter name out loud; and 2) cutting out letters from sandpaper and having the child “trace” the sandpaper letter with his or her finger while saying the name of the letter.

15. A picture is worth a thousand words.The expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” may become especially important for the visual person who has difficulty expressing himself verbally. For example, a student may make diagrams, charts, or drawings to help him remember what he has read. If he is good at art, the student may draw or paint pictures to explain his ideas.

16. Teach active reading.To help with comprehension, it may be helpful to underline key words and phrases with a pencil or highlighter and to paraphrase them in the margins, thereby making reading more active. If the student is not allowed to write in the book, he can write the main words or ideas on Post-It notes.

17. Guide students to read between the lines.When first teaching students to infer while reading, the teacher should first guide the thinking by using a whole class activity. After the class as a whole has identified a logical inference, the teacher should facilitate the examination of the process by which they arrived at their inference. Leading questions may be, “What is the author saying to us? How do we know the author meant this?” Remind students that authors provide clues (imply) so readers can infer.

18. Provide individual evaluation and intervention.Many students with language challenges benefit from individual evaluation and remediation by highly qualified professionals. It is critical to use assessment tools designed to pinpoint specific skill deficits and to provide individual or small group remediation/intervention using explicit, evidence-based strategies and methods that directly address each student’s individual needs.

These strategies can help you enhance and maximise your learning capacity. However, as with learning anything, be it a skill or a language, repetition and familiarity are always the most important key factors to success. Come down to ASE today to find out how we can help you succeed in learning a foreign language! Or register for a course online now!

This age-old debate will continue to rage on but in terms of language acquisition and translation, which one is better? Human or Machine?

We’ve all used Google Translate or downloaded an online dictionary when we’re travelling. Perhaps we’ve even depended on it for work or to communicate with friends from other countries. However, more often than not, we know the translation isn’t accurate. Sure, we’re probably somewhere in the ball park, but there’s always that chance that you’re saying “library” instead of “toilet”.

These translation faux pas aren’t hard to find, even in Singapore, they’re common. Last year alone there were two cases where banners were improperly translated. The media fire storm was not only embarrassing but also offensive as it was Tamil, one of our official languages, that was mistranslated.

Ultimately, man still wins the language acquisition and translation game.

This is where man trumps the machine.

Learning the language, or using a human translator, ensures accurate and quality translation as a human will be able to understand the idiomatic nuances or find a suitable substitute for the phrase. At the very least, you won’t get a literal translation for those pesky phrases. That said, it is more time-consuming, regardless of whether you learn the language or hire a professional.

But is this enough of an incentive to award the crown to the machine? We think not. Especially if you are travelling, it is important to understand the nuances of a language if you are going to try to converse with a native speaker. Many languages like French and Thai have formal and informal speech, or male and female nouns, which a software cannot detect. In fact, some of the most common errors with online software are missing verbs or missing words altogether. So travellers are actually much better off taking a crash course or a traveller’s language course in the language they want to speak.

Bots, software and other language programs are highly used by travellers, employees and even students. However, will they ever trump the power of human translation?

Of course, this is more effort than using Google Translate, but not only will it help when ordering, asking for directions or taking instruction, but it will also be a useful skill to have in your back pocket. In our globalised world, the ability to speak more than one language is highly regarded. In fact, we’ve just made the case that translators will never be out of work. In this case, human trumps the machine! At least until machines are able to learn.

At Agape School of Education, we offer courses in over 13 different languages. We cover curriculum for business purposes, preparation courses for all levels of language certification, academic courses for students (especially for those who follow the MOELC syllabus) and even courses for travellers. That said, our courses are modifiable based on our students’ needs. Come down to our school today to find out more about our language courses, be it for travel, business or educational purposes! Find available courses here.

Chinese characters seem to be the most difficult part for foreign learners of Mandarin. One likely reason may be that Chinese characters look very different from their Roman language counterparts. Each character in Mandarin represents not only the pronunciation, but also possess a certain meaning. A common complaint is that Chinese characters are so unlike each other that you have to learn them individually. Unfortunately, there are so many to memorise and that when encountering a new character, previous knowledge of other characters rarely helps because you can neither pronounce it directly nor guess what it means. However, this is not always true. There are connections between Chinese characters, composed in a defined way and learning these connections can help learners score better.

Chinese characters form the pictorial writing system used for recording in ancient China. With a history dating back over 8,000 years, it is one of the oldest surviving writing systems in the world. Inscriptions of Chinese characters were found on turtle shells dating back to the Shang dynasty (1766-1123 BC). Known as the Oracle bone script, 1,000 of the 4,600 known bone logographs can be identified with characters used currently. An old Chinese legend credits Cangjie, an official historian under the legendary Emperor Huangdi in 2600 BC, for the invention of the Chinese characters. Although attributing its creation to one person is more likely to be an exaggeration, it is thanks to contributors like Cangjie that we have a complete and well-developed writing system.

Xu Shen, from the Eastern Han Dynasty (121 AD), was a distinguished scholar who attained unparalleled fame for his etymological dictionary, “Shuo Wen Jie Zi”, which explains the written language and parsing words. In the book, Chinese characters are classified into six categories, namely pictogram, ideograph, logical aggregates, pictophonetic compounds, borrowing, and associate transformation. However, Chinese characters generally fall into the first four categories as per their origin.

Pictograms

Pictograms are the earliest characters created and they usually reflect the shape of physical objects. From this pictorial method, other character-forming principles were subsequently developed. Over time, pictograms evolved from irregular drawings to a definite form. Most were simplified by losing certain strokes for ease of writing. However, only a small portion (less than 5%) of Chinese characters fall into this category.

Ideograph

Also called simple indicative, ideographs usually describe an abstract concept. It’s a combination of indicators or the addition of an indicator to a pictograph to connote meaning. For example, a short horizontal bar on top of a circular arc represents the concept of “up” or “on top of”. Similarly, placing an indicative horizontal bar below the pictogram for “wood” is an ideograph for the word “root”. However, like pictograms, the number of this category is also small, less than 2%.

Logical aggregates

These are a combination of pictograms that represent a meaning, rather like telling a story. A pictograph for “person” on the left of one for “wood” connotes “rest”. This story-telling formation is relatively easier to learn as most aggregates have been reformed into or replaced by phonetic compounds.

Pictophonetic compounds

Also called semantic-phonetic compounds, they combine semantic elements with phonetic ones, taking meaning from one and phonetics from the other. For instance, the character for “ocean” (“yang”) is a combination of the semantic classifier of “water” with the phonetic component “yang”. On its own, “yang” means “goat” or “sheep”. This last group of characters is the largest in modern Chinese, making up around 90% of all Chinese characters.

The superiority of phonetic-compounds in the first three categories lies in its unique phonetic components. Many objects and concepts are hard to express through photographs or ideograms, therefore, the association with character pronunciation helps Chinese vocabulary extend faster than logical aggregates. Therefore, newer Chinese characters tend to follow this format.

Over the centuries, the Chinese language has undergone great change. Knowing the origin and evolution of the characters can help learners understand its formation. For example, the phonetic-compound for “cargo” or “goods” uses the character for “shell” as the semantic element because shells were a form of currency in ancient China.

Agape School of Education (ASE) is special because we ensure that our classes are small to maximise teacher-student interaction. Our mix of native and non-native teachers learn from each other to better help students. ASE’s unique curriculum includes regular revisions and testing to ensure students truly understand the concepts and to enhance their learning experience. Find available courses here.

It can be tedious to learn a language. There will always be a certain amount of raw memorization required. However, there are also many little techniques to help students learn a language efficiently. Labelling things around the house in the language you want to learn comes to mind. Listening to tapes while in the car is another. I used several techniques to quickly learn Spanish.

How I Quickly Learned Spanish

My journey through Spanish started before my trip to Ecuador. I first studied Spanish books for six weeks before leaving but I didn’t speak a word of the language during this time. This was a big mistake. I was just able to converse with the locals in the hostel in Quito the day after I arrived. However, within a few days, I was discussing philosophy, politics and more.

How did I learn Spanish so quickly? I didn’t really. I had a very limited vocabulary when I arrived in Ecuador, and a very limited vocabulary when I left. However, I could use what little Spanish I knew to express myself. This I credit to a habit that fortunately is also a great technique for learning a language.I have conversations in my head. I think of what I am about to say, and play out future discussions in my imagination. I found myself doing this in Spanish too. The result was that I learned how to speak the language quickly, and say a lot with few words.

Learn To Think In A Language

People imagine that they have to be fluent to think in a language. This just isn’t true. You can choose to think “I am walking to the store,” so there is no reason you can’t think “Yo estoy caminando a la tienda,” as soon as you know those six words. If you don’t know the word “caminar” (to walk), this also helps you recognised words that you use regularly so you can look them up as you get stuck.

One reason this is a great way to learn a language is that it helps you remember the words. Repetition works, and saying the words, even if only in your mind, works better than reading or hearing them. When you make a point of translating your thoughts into your new language, you are always practising.

It is more than just good practice, though. Putting your thoughts into your new language forces you to learn not just words and rules, but also specific ways to express what you want to say. We all talk about different things and have different interests, right? A doctor might want to know how to say “where does it hurt?” while I may want to ask where the toilets are. Often, you learn what others think you should know. This helps, but your thoughts are uniquely yours, and when you think in your new language, you are learning exactly what YOU need to learn.

Speaking a language is perhaps the best way to learn it, and thinking it is just speaking it in your mind. You’ll learn your most important words, expressions and sentences quickly if you are thinking them continually. To help you cultivate this habit, carry a language dictionary with you to use whenever your thoughts stop flowing. There are many apps that you can download, completely free! This is a powerful way to learn a language and start speaking it quickly.

At Agape School of Education (ASE), we keep our classes small so our teachers can connect with their students on a personal level. This helps them tailor their lessons and teaching approaches to the individual student. We also combine the technical aspect of language with the cultural. This reinforces the love of the language and helps the student better grasp the language. Our goal is to impart knowledge and inspire passion in our students, and our coaching approach helps our students deal with the emotional aspect of learning a new language. Find available courses here.

Paris is often regarded as the city of love and by extension, French is viewed as the language of love. It is undeniable that certain languages simply sound better than others. But why is this so?

The Roman emperor, Charles V, once said, “I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.” You might laugh, but many a language has developed over the years because of phonetic preferences over the general linguistic rule. But is that all? Sounds are common over many different languages, but the way we might feel about French is not the same way we might feel about German. A recent study concluded that people prefer languages that belong to cultures that are similar to their own.

Certain phonetic rules and sounds in the Thai language appeal to those with similar sounds in their native language.

Specifically, we tend to judge a language from the way we regard their people. This is why culture is so important when learning a language. Therefore, a businessman might value Chinese because China is currently an economic powerhouse and an emerging market leader. This theory also applies to languages that are widely spoken and therefore open more communication channels to different groups of people.

Our belief that a language is more romantic or harsh comes from our own understanding and perception of the people and their culture. For example, when I think about French, I imagine a cobblestone street, a quiet afternoon sur la rue and my French lover proposing at the Eiffel Tower. Voilà, the language of love is rooted in the way I perceive their society.

Linguistically, there are many foreign languages with different linguistic and semantic rules that may not appeal to a native English speaker, for example. Tones that are alien to the speaker, may be harder on the ear and therefore sound less enticing. But this is still all rooted in our psyche.

Everything sounds better in French.. or does it?

The more we understand about one another and of another culture, the more accepting we can become. There isn’t much of a point in learning a language if you are not going to want to speak it to its people. When we travel to France, most of us try to pick up a little bit of the language or at least key phrases like “where is the toilet?” (“Où est aux toilettes?”, you’re welcome). The argument can be made that we often fall in love with the culture and the people and then the language. This is also the best way to inspire a love for the language, which can help with the learning process.

At Agape School of Education, our language classes are interwoven with culture. We hope to inspire a love of learning and the language through a deeper understanding of the language, be it their culture, their people or even their food! We also provide playgroups for small children. This course, which is available in different languages, exposes your child to foreign languages and a like-minded community at a young age. If everything doesn’t sound better in French to you, perhaps it’s time to find out which language appeals to you! Come down today to find out how we can help you learn a foreign language for any purpose! Find a course online here.

While Netflix, Amazon and Itunes have made watching movies at home convenient, the experience of going down to the movies with friends is one that is not readily replicated at home. Here are some places you should head down to for that awesome movie experience.

1. Ciné ClubOkay, so this is not a cinema- rather, it is a movie club hosted by the Alliance Française de Singapour. However, I would argue that it being a movie club is even better for those among us who are flying solo- after all, what could be better than watching awesome films and perhaps making a new friend or two?Address: Alliance Française de Singapour , 1 Sarkies Rd, Singapore 258130

2. The ProjectorOne of the only independent theatres left in Singapore, The Projector shows both box offices successes as well as smaller, indie films. They also occasionally host film festivals, which can be quite valuable to foreign language students since they get to experience overarching themes in films that are produced within a language.Address: 6001 Beach Road, #05-00, Golden Mile Tower, 199589

3. Carnival CinemasLocated at the Second floor of Shaw Towers, Bombay Talkies exclusively screens Hindi movies- presumably for Indian foreign workers. That said, if you’re learning Hindi, you might as well go take a look. While the tickets are more expensive, you’re getting more bang for your buck, given the long duration of Bollywood movies.Address: 100 Beach Road, #02-00 Shaw Towers, 189702, Singapore

Korean dramas have taken most of Asia (and arguably, the world) by storm. Thus it should be no surprise that their lesser-known cousin, the webcomic, has also gathered its own following internationally. Just as dramas are excellent resources to learn spoken language, webcomics are also a great resource for learning about written Korean.

As LINE Webtoon also offers official English translations, you can compare them with the original (and even critique them)! The best part? While some webcomics are pay-to-view, quite a few of them are free to view.1. Tower of GodThis is a webcomic written by S.I.U, as part of his Tazer universe. This story centres around Baam, who is following a girl up a mysterious tower. This particular webcomic reads a lot like an epic rather than a periodic comic, given that the author is still slowly filling us in on the details of the tower, its inhabitants and rulers. However, if you’re not daunted by the sheer length of the comic, it is a rewarding read.

2. NoblesseThis webcomic follows the story of Rai, a vampire, after he wakes up in modern day Japan after 800 years of sleeping and the people that he meets along the way. The comics provide some extremely funny and light moments (like when a vampire gifts cup noodles). That said- the authors do not skimp on the storyline either- the world and the storyline is realistic and fairly complex. This webtoon is also episodic, which makes it easy to finish in several reads.

3. The GamerStill a relatively new comic, The Gamer details the life of the protagonist Han Jee-Han, a high school student after he gains an ability called The Gamer. This ability turns his life into a real-life game, complete with quests, rewards and allies out of a video game. While the premise might seem a little silly (and there are plenty of lighthearted moments)- there is also an interesting overarching storyline.

In Singapore, our curriculum is structured such that children are exposed to English and a second language at the tender age of 7. Many are exposed to a second language at a younger age as their parents are bi- or multi-lingual. Many researchers have published studies indicating that a exposure to a second language at a young age is beneficial for the child’s learning ability and mental processes.

Perhaps this is due to linguist and neurologist, Eric Heinz Lenneberg’s, critical period theory. In a nutshell, his theory states that children who have not yet hit puberty have the most capacity to learn a new language. This is because younger children are thought to use both sides of the brain for learning but as we get older, language learning is localised primarily in the left hemisphere. Therefore, when we are younger, learning a new language is thought to be more of a natural and intuitive process.

Children often learn from various stimuli including their surroundings, other children and adults

Children learn using information and stimuli from their environment. On the other hand, adults learn language as part of a conscious process and therefore require strict instruction and, more importantly, intention. However, this theory has come under scrutiny and debate recently. While researchers have always debated over the length of the critical period, the debate now surrounds the efficacy of this period of learning. Some have also cast doubts about the existence of the critical period all together.

If exposed to a certain language at a young age, does this guarantee that the child will be fluent in that language throughout their life? Are adult learners simply wasting their time in language classes?

The good news is, there is no ‘magical’ period of learning, where you can ‘soak up language like a sponge’. Every level of learning requires intent and work. While it may seem like children are fast learners, this does not guarantee that the child will remain fluent throughout their lives. Indeed, this does not even guarantee that the child learns the language properly. Grammar is not an innate thing, but rather a learnt skill. Therefore, while it is important to teach a child proper language acquisition, it does not restrict an adult from learning a new language.

So, how does the brain ‘learn’ new languages?

Our brains form new connections whenever we learn new information. This malleability of the brain is most optimal in children, therefore their ability to retain new information is better than that of an adult. However, no amount of learning can help and adult or a child if the intent to learn is not present. This is where older learners (anyone past puberty) benefit, because more often than not, these learners understand the important of learning a new language.

At ASE, we use many different materials to help our students learn effectively

Many more factors apart from age and malleability of the brain play a part in acquiring a new language. These factors are also different between students and therefore when learning a new language, it is important that the teacher understand these different needs. At Agape School of Education, we ensure that each student is taught in the most effective way possible. Our teachers identify the needs of individual students and tailor classes accordingly. With regular student reports and assessments, we ensure that our students are on the right track and allow them to monitor themselves. Perhaps most importantly, we aspire to inspire a love for language in our students, young or experienced.

While there might not be an ideal age for language learning, there is certainly no time like the present to take up learning a new language. Contact us today for more information or view and book a course and get started!

Mastering a foreign language just got easier. Specialised movies have blended entertainment and reading to create an enjoyable, yet effective way to learn.

How is this so? It’s possible thanks to the “natural approach.”

Movies are a useful tool that complements learning a foreign language.

Developed by Stephen Kashen, a linguistics expert, the natural approach is a philosophy that people can learn a foreign language naturally if the input is enjoyable, relaxed, entertaining and relevant. Similarly, Jérôme Paul, a French teacher, has been developing a teaching series entitled “Le Français illustré” attached below. It’s main purpose is using illustration to accompany words when teaching language, helping students better understand and connect with the language.

The concept has been shaped through research in linguistics, psychology, psycholinguistics and, most recently, multisensory media technology. Multisensory media technologies specifically targeting this form of learning is also available. Scientists and educators indicate that using captions with the film activate the cognitive elements of the brain so the development of both reading and spoken language skills take place naturally. Movies can also serve as a form of motivation, which not only helps learning, but also keeps the student in touch with the language.

​At every learning level, something can be garnered from this medium of language learning, be it culture, intonation, phrases or vocabulary! For example, accents are unique to different countries, even if they speak the same language. Students can often find this challenging, but exposure to different accents in movies can give them the comfort and familiarity with the sounds they are learning.

Recognising words or phrases during a movie, while rewarding, is also a marker of learning progress. Using movies to expand one’s vocabulary is a good way to gather relevant phrases and words to use in daily speech. Oftentimes, as students, we are unsure of the vocabulary we require until the situation arises. Movies simulate these situations and they’re generally enjoyable, which helps us retain that information.

So how do we find the right movies?

Singapore often hosts film festivals which screen popular movies and can be a fun activity for groups. Source: The AIRSCREEN Company (Christian Kremer)

There is no “right” movie, the key is that the movie or show should be enjoyable for the learner! Don’t force yourself to watch something just because it is in that language because then it becomes a chore. Each year, Singapore hosts numerous film festivals. One such example is the French Film Festival, which showcases the best films from the francophonie. Even if you don’t manage to score a ticket, you can use these festivals as a source for good movies, and popular actors and actresses.

However, all this said, we’re not saying you should throw out those books and sit down in front of the television. Classes and a good teacher are crucial to effective learning, but learning does not have to stop outside of the classroom. Many adult learners often get busy with work, home and life in general and learning a foreign language can quickly take a backseat. Soon, months go by and the language is all but forgotten. Movies can help students learn at their own leisure and keep them in touch with the language. You can even bring the film to class and discuss it with your teacher and other students.

At Agape School of Education, we use a wide variety of methods to cultivate a passion for language. We also understand that students are often busy and that life can get hectic. Therefore, our classes are modifiable to fit different people, different needs and different schedules. Find us online and choose from one of our 13 language courses today!

During the modern age, with globalisation at its height, knowing one or two secondary languages has become more than a simple feat of high class and intelligence but also a strict requirement in many occasions. Whether it’s for professional, social or personal reasons, learning at least one foreign language is a must for anyone that wants to keep his or her head up high in today’s society. Let’s take a focused look at 5 of the main reasons that should turn you towards learning a foreign language.

ASE also offers purely conversational courses for CEO’s and upper management, suited to their needs and schedules.

1. Professional Requirement

This is probably the main reason for which one would learn a foreign language. Many professions require the knowledge of at least one or two foreign languages, depending on the field of the job. Most jobs may ask that you know an international language such as English, French, Spanish or German or a business-specific language such as Chinese, Japanese, Russian and so forth. If you’re a native English speaker you may have it a bit easier since English is the main international language (and one that is present the most often in job descriptions) but knowing a secondary might also prove vital.

2. Social Bonus

Yes, knowing a foreign language (or more) is definitely a social bonus. There’s definitely a steep hill to climb between being presented as someone that doesn’t know any foreign language whatsoever against being presented as a polyglot. Another case when knowing a foreign language can be literally a social blessing is when meeting a foreigner whose language you can speak. They’ll be extremely impressed by your ability to talk with them through their own native tongue, although you’re on home grounds and this fact can single-handedly create a great impression on you. If the foreigner happens to be part of a business meeting, this impression can turn into a successful business partnership, bringing you both professional and social satisfactions.

3. Family Communication

It’s often the case where a couple formed out of persons of diverse nationalities understand each other through a commonly known international language such as English. However, they’ll soon want to start learning the other person’s mother tongue, not only for a better communication but also out of respect for them.

4. Personal Satisfaction

Learning a foreign language is one of the highest intellectual goals that one could have, on a personal scale. Think about a difficult puzzle or a math problem that takes months if not years of constant studying in order to be solved. The process of solving it may be a hard, arduous one but the yell of joy at the end is well worth it. Its the same case with learning a foreign language: the learning process is not easy and you’ll have many small issues and problems to tackle along the way. You’ll have to focus on various aspects of the problem, such as spelling, grammar, reading, pronunciation and so forth. If you keep the problem in sight however and if you don’t lose interest in it, the chances of solving it are extremely high and the intellectual fulfilment that you get at the end is incomparable to anything else.

5. Keeping Your Mind Healthy

It’s been scientifically proven that by learning a new language, the process stimulates your brain in such a way that it will make you keen to understand and learn other subjects, including real disciplines such as math, physics, chemistry and so forth. Learning a new language requires the memorisation and understanding of several thousand new words and concepts, which offers your brain a good training for future occasions where memorising is a must. After studying a foreign language you’ll have better results with studying for exams, with information assimilation and generally, with keeping your mind healthy and active even at older ages.

Come down to Agape School of Education and pick a foreign language course that you’re interested! If you’re a Singaporean citizen above the age of 25, you are eligible for the SkillsFuture Credit Scheme! Our Korean and German classes are claimable via SkillsFuture Credit.

What better way to improve yourself than by picking up a new language or refreshing rusty skills?

The French Language

Over 220 million people around the world speak French. This number includes people who speak French as a native language, as a second language and students of all ages who do not live in the Francophonie Française but have learned French. In fact, French as a foreign language is the second most commonly taught language worldwide after English. It is also the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world, as well as, in the United States. French comes in second after English on the list of the world’s 10 most influential languages. Proof of this is the pivotal role French holds in politics. It is one of the official working languages in dozens of powerful international organisations such as the European Union, United Nations, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation and a host of other worldwide institutions. In addition, the Universal Postal Union, a part of the United Nations, together with the worldwide postal system, uses French the official language. English, a working language, was only introduced in 1994.

The French language of today is a direct result of long periods of evolution. France, throughout its long history, had been invaded by different ethnic tribal groups. The most distinguished of these are the Franks. They adopted the Latin language, which was spoken at that time and from which the French language descended. It is also known as one of the Romance languages, which include Catalan, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. They are called such because of their parent tongue, Latin, was the language of the Romans. Of course, this is not to say that French isn’t a romantic language, many a time Paris has been called the city of love. Over the years, the early French language has undergone changes in words and grammatical structures. It has evolved into the global French that is taught today.

French speak – Here, There and Everywhere

French is one of the world’s most influential languages and is the official language in more than 29 countries.

The French-speaking world spans the entire globe as it is heard and used in all continents. Aside from English, French is the only language spoken as a native or first language on five different continents.

In Europe, French is the official language of France, Luxembourg, Monaco, Belgium and Switzerland. France, with a population of more than 60 million, is one of the most modern countries in the world. It is one of the predominant leaders in the European Union. French is also a co-official language in Switzerland. This picturesque country is one of the world’s richest countries and the centre of many international associations. Belgium, in the half past century, has emerged as a progressive European state. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is home to the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Cote d’Ivoire is a French-speaking African nation with one of the fastest growing economies worldwide, making French an important language in business.Photo credit: Zenman

In Africa, there are over 20 French-speaking countries include Algeria, Burundi, Benin, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Madagascar, Morocco, Rwanda, Togo, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles. In the Americas and the Caribbean, French is spoken in Canada, Haiti, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe (these last three are French territories). In Australia and the Pacific, Vanuatu and the overseas French territories French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Fortuna are French-speaking. In total, there 29 countries using French worldwide and the Côte d’Ivoire is one such country often recognised for having one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As such, French is quickly becoming an important language in the business world.

In many other countries, French plays a significant role either as an administrative, commercial or international language. Some of these countries are Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Greece, India, Italy, Laos, Lebanon, Mauritania, Poland, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (Channel Islands), United States particularly Louisiana and New England, the Vatican City, and Vietnam. Within the Francophonie Française there are associate members who, despite not being in a French-speaking country, are engaged in promoting the French language and its culture.

Learning French doesn’t have to be boring, especially since it’s a language with such rich history and culture. At Agape School of Education, our language classes are interwoven with culture. We hope to inspire a love of learning and the language through a deeper understanding of the language, be it their culture, their people or even their food! We also provide an executive conversational course for professionals and business leaders, called French Expresso. Our materials are specifically designed for high-level management and CEO’s. The French language is poised to be a key player in future expanding businesses worldwide. Come down today to find out how we can help you learn French for any purpose!

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Agape School of Education has been providing award-winning language instruction to our students since 2006.Our courses are designed for all ages and levels, from students, casual learners to the career-minded adult.